I dunno, the three months I was laid off were the best three months I'd had for years. Of course, when you've worked the graveyard shift with Wednesday and Thursday off, for several years, suddenly being awake during the daylight hours with weekends off will do wonders for your mental well-being.

I'm frequently unemployed due to what I do for a living. After every job ands, there is a period of one day to up to a couple weeks, where I am technically "unemployed". These past two months though have felt vastly different and I can attest to the fact that it's had and effect on my mental health at the very least, as well as my physical health. Everyday that goes by where I am unsuccessful at securing work, even though I know my business is going through a very slow period right now, is a another day that puts me into a deep depression. And yes, having to buy cheaper food which leads to less than stellar quality, isn't helping. I've finally been able to get out of the house and help a friend in her business, which seems to be booming at the moment, but it's not what I normally do, and in the end the money isn't near enough for me to live off of. But I can tell you the difference it's made in my self esteem, I feel useful again and like I can weather the slow period until it turns around.

I'm however, not surprised that people who are unemployed have a 35% higher risk of having a heart attack. There have certainly been days in the past two months, where I felt that I wasn't going to last too much longer without something physical happening. Heart attack or just being hospitalized from the stress of it.

Well if you can't buy healthy fresh food you're practically screwed, and if you can't pay for medicine or hospital bills you're left to count on your own natural defenses. Being poor is just as bad as being near death.

PacManDreaming:I dunno, the three months I was laid off were the best three months I'd had for years. Of course, when you've worked the graveyard shift with Wednesday and Thursday off, for several years, suddenly being awake during the daylight hours with weekends off will do wonders for your mental well-being.

I worked that same shift. I think seeing the sunlight again put ten years back on my life expectancy.

I've been unemployed since April 26th. This has been the first time I've been truly unemployed with little to no support network. The unemployment I receive barely covers the bills and "good meals" are far and few between. Any time I get sick, I find a source of Vitamin C and hope to get better rather than worse because I can't afford to go to urgent care.

shiat sucks. I've been putting out two applications a week since I was let go and have yet to so much as have a call back.

ltdanman44:Study: Having a Bad Job Is Worse than No Job For Mental Health

What kind of study is this? It's like choosing between eating your shiat or someone else's shiat. Both taste pretty much the same.

Your mental health would prolly be the last of your worries if you were in that situation

You might think so, but based on my own anecdotal experience, you might be wrong.

I've had truly wretched jobs with awful bosses and hideous hours (it was a graveyard shift, I was the shift manager, and my boss micromanaged EVERYTHING, plus I had to deal with so-called "workers" who only showed up if they felt like it), and after six months I had to quit. My depression was really spiraling out of control. Quitting was probably the best thing I could have done at that point--I felt instantly better, although financially I really needed the work.

I would say, however, that the job has to be a) really crappy and b) totally uncorrectable by any other means, before no job is better than a bad job.

GreenSun:Well if you can't buy healthy fresh food you're practically screwed, and if you can't pay for medicine or hospital bills you're left to count on your own natural defenses. Being poor is just as bad as being near death.

Yeah, this. I've been broke while being able to grow most of my own food (kind of had to) and while I couldn't. Both were stressful as f--k times, but the latter period was straight up awful. At least when I could grow I could distract myself by getting shiat done in the garden that needed to get done. And some of the amazing meals we had for an absurdly low cost (seeds, few bags of compost spread very, very thinly to add to whatever leaf compost we could manage to add... and the rest was all work hours) really kind of lifted the spirits. But not completely.

Yeah, I made much use out of 2 week trial memberships at gyms a few winters back. I'm sure it helped but I don't think all that much. It's hard to gain the stress relief benefits of exercise when you're worrying what else you can do to find some money, any money, otherwise you're f--ked... stress really screws with you mentally and physically. I'm surprised I didn't come out of that with a heart attack.

Mangoose:It's not being unemployed that's bad for your health, it's having to by cheap, shiatty food and all that time to drink during the morning that's bad for your health.

I was unemployed for a period of time while finishing up my college degree. Actually, I ate healthier because I cooked at home and was able to exercise for free by walking or biking on the trail near my home. I miss having some of the free time but need the money now.

Gyrfalcon:PacManDreaming: I dunno, the three months I was laid off were the best three months I'd had for years. Of course, when you've worked the graveyard shift with Wednesday and Thursday off, for several years, suddenly being awake during the daylight hours with weekends off will do wonders for your mental well-being.

I worked that same shift. I think seeing the sunlight again put ten years back on my life expectancy.

I got fired about a month ago from the same shift after years. It's a bit weird seeing the sun and not thinking I should be in bed.

Why even publish this article? You might as well say, 'Shiat happens, deal with it.'

Here's my own study: Scientists confirmed that the older you get the higher your chance of dying. There's been no exact cause for this phenomenon, but they say it may be because of a lack of oxygen supplied to your heart or brain. We just don't know. More studies are needed.

These articles do not inform anyone of anything they don't already now and only serve to scare people.

I agree sudden job loss is stressful; I imagine if you're used to cyclical unemployment though it's less of a stresser since in theory you'd have time to save money for it. During the time I didn't have to worry too much about money, I was indeed healthier and happier. Then I ran out of money and had to take another shiatty job which stressed me out a lot. Now I stress myself out even more by being self employed and worrying about paying bills constantly.

sonorangal:Mangoose: It's not being unemployed that's bad for your health, it's having to by cheap, shiatty food and all that time to drink during the morning that's bad for your health.

I was unemployed for a period of time while finishing up my college degree. Actually, I ate healthier because I cooked at home and was able to exercise for free by walking or biking on the trail near my home. I miss having some of the free time but need the money now.

Unemployment with absolutely nothing on the horizon is a bit different.

MrBreakIt:I've been unemployed since April 26th. This has been the first time I've been truly unemployed with little to no support network. The unemployment I receive barely covers the bills and "good meals" are far and few between. Any time I get sick, I find a source of Vitamin C and hope to get better rather than worse because I can't afford to go to urgent care.

shiat sucks. I've been putting out two applications a week since I was let go and have yet to so much as have a call back.

Seriously, best of luck to you. Keep trying. But try to keep up the Vitamin C (and healthy a diet as you can, hey, I learned how to cook dried beans and lentils *really* well when I was in your situation) all the time, not just when you're sick. That sort of thing works better at preventing than curing.

And if you can try to volunteer somewhere. It helps, plus you might make a connection that'll lead to a job. At the very least you can point to something you accomplished when you get an interview.

MrBreakIt:I've been unemployed since April 26th. This has been the first time I've been truly unemployed with little to no support network. The unemployment I receive barely covers the bills and "good meals" are far and few between. Any time I get sick, I find a source of Vitamin C and hope to get better rather than worse because I can't afford to go to urgent care.

shiat sucks. I've been putting out two applications a week since I was let go and have yet to so much as have a call back.

I am sure you qualify for food stamps (or EBT card or whatever it's called these days). You may still struggle to pay rent and keep the lights on, but there's no reason not to eat well.

The job I had last was probably the worst one that I could imagine. Crappy boss who didn't understand how to manage anyone, crappy company that wanted to skirt health and safety regulations. The people who I managed really did not have the qualifications to do what their job duties entailed, originally I was told I could bring on my own crew of people actually qualified but the company wanted to pay peanuts and I was actively embarrassed making a pitch to hire someone.

Choosing between putting in 60 hours minimum a week for a crappy company or taking advantage of the time to make improvements to the ranch and doing part of the labor myself for building my new house was not a terribly difficult choice to make.

When I decided I wanted out of there I simply stopped letting the company get away with any "creative compliance" with regulations and started alerting the regulator whenever they tried one of their tricks. Ended up feeling good about what I was doing for the first time working there and the ability to draw unemployment for them firing me without cause. Well I guess they could have listed being a stickler for government regulations and making sure the company didn't put out products that would endanger public welfare as a cause but they didn't choose to do so, might have had something to do with the fact I had documentation of their shenanigans and could turn it over if I felt so inclined, or maybe they just felt generous.

Being unemployed takes a tremendous toll on you, both physically and mentally.

I just got back to work after spending the last six months out of work due to a layoff. It's great the first few months because you've got all that free time to maybe spend more time with friends/family or to pursue interests and projects you've been meaning to but couldn't because of time. I took some time to travel and visit some friends I haven't seen in a while. I read more. I took up running. I started taking classes at my community college.

But after that, you start worrying you'll go batshiat insane because then you start worrying about money. Like constant, overwhelming dread about money. You start feeling jealous of your friends who are still working. That jealousy starts to eat at you. You start thinking of yourself as an outcast. You avoid your friends because you feel like they pity you or are judging you for being unemployed. Then you start feeling angry that you're being left out while the world passes you by. And you get frustrated when it feels like your job-search efforts seem to be going nowhere.

It's really scary how alone and angry you can feel. You've seen some extreme cases, where a person just goes out and starts shooting shiat up. That kind of constant stress you feel if you've been unemployed for a while can change a person. Some people crumble, and lash out at the world. Some people find the will to hang on and come out on the other side OK.

I can tell you for sure that long term unemployment is bad for you. I left a damn good job (government contract) 3 years ago because my contract term was up, and the company's contract was nearing it's end as well. I had not one, but two jobs lined up for the next FY with contacts I had made at the previous position.

The next fiscal year came around, and the funding had dried up for not one, but both positions, along with the one I had occupied previously. I was still on the hook for child support at my old income level though. For every 60 or so applications I'd put in every week while on unemployment, I'd get maybe one call back. Mabye. Then unemployment ran out. It hasn't really gotten any better, either for me or the people I used to work with. I know if I look at a picture of me now, versus three years ago, I look a hell of a lot older. I've probably aged 15 years in the past three.

MrBreakIt:I've been unemployed since April 26th. This has been the first time I've been truly unemployed with little to no support network. The unemployment I receive barely covers the bills and "good meals" are far and few between. Any time I get sick, I find a source of Vitamin C and hope to get better rather than worse because I can't afford to go to urgent care.

shiat sucks. I've been putting out two applications a week since I was let go and have yet to so much as have a call back.

Good luck, man. I was out for about 18 months and it was no party. Keep plugging away and eventually the fish will bite.

hundreddollarman:But after that, you start worrying you'll go batshiat insane because then you start worrying about money. Like constant, overwhelming dread about money

Yep. It's hard to sleep well knowing you may be evicted in the AM.

hundreddollarman:You start thinking of yourself as an outcast. You avoid your friends because you feel like they pity you or are judging you for being unemployed.

I have friends who DO judge me when I'm unemployed. Good friends. They suddenly hate me or something.

hundreddollarman:And you get frustrated when it feels like your job-search efforts seem to be going nowhere

God that can be the worst. It's hard not to get discouraged when you send out ten resumes a day, every day for weeks, and never even get a phone call in return. The only jobs I've gotten in a decade worth spit I got because of people I knew. Sending out resumes for jobs feels exactly the same as dumping them out the window.

StreetlightInTheGhetto:sonorangal: Mangoose: It's not being unemployed that's bad for your health, it's having to by cheap, shiatty food and all that time to drink during the morning that's bad for your health.

I was unemployed for a period of time while finishing up my college degree. Actually, I ate healthier because I cooked at home and was able to exercise for free by walking or biking on the trail near my home. I miss having some of the free time but need the money now.

Unemployment with absolutely nothing on the horizon is a bit different.

MrBreakIt: I've been unemployed since April 26th. This has been the first time I've been truly unemployed with little to no support network. The unemployment I receive barely covers the bills and "good meals" are far and few between. Any time I get sick, I find a source of Vitamin C and hope to get better rather than worse because I can't afford to go to urgent care.

shiat sucks. I've been putting out two applications a week since I was let go and have yet to so much as have a call back.

Seriously, best of luck to you. Keep trying. But try to keep up the Vitamin C (and healthy a diet as you can, hey, I learned how to cook dried beans and lentils *really* well when I was in your situation) all the time, not just when you're sick. That sort of thing works better at preventing than curing.

And if you can try to volunteer somewhere. It helps, plus you might make a connection that'll lead to a job. At the very least you can point to something you accomplished when you get an interview.

Take care.

I was out of work for two years, I left a stressful job and finished college an another year trying to get a job because of the economy and length of time out of work no one wanted to hire me. I had moments that were a little scary too and did get depressed over it when money was tight and things started to seem hopeless. I was very lucky to have a support network and a 401K to get me through it. But I also realized I had to be positive. I got to spend time with my family, did non cost things I had not had a chance to do when I was working, and exercising helped with some of the stress because it gave me goals to further my progress.

Right now sucked up some pride take a stepping stone job. Not the job I really want, but I have some income so that is better than nothing at all. But it looks better on my resume to be working and applying for jobs than not.

Advice I can give is don't isolate yourself, Get out there and network even if it is uncomfortable and sometimes in applying for some jobs persistence pays off . Find a support group that can help you look for a job, how to tailor your resume to fit job and/or suck some of that pride too and take what jobs are available to get back into the work force. Then get your resume out on your free time by using other means than the internet. Good luck in getting a job.

sonorangal:Advice I can give is don't isolate yourself, Get out there and network even if it is uncomfortable and sometimes in applying for some jobs persistence pays off

God this is sadly so true. I hate people and avoid them mostly, but sometimes you need a friend. Unemployment is that time, more so than when you're grieving. Friends won't bring your loved ones back, but they might get you a paycheck.

Confabulat:hundreddollarman: But after that, you start worrying you'll go batshiat insane because then you start worrying about money. Like constant, overwhelming dread about money

Yep. It's hard to sleep well knowing you may be evicted in the AM.

hundreddollarman: You start thinking of yourself as an outcast. You avoid your friends because you feel like they pity you or are judging you for being unemployed.

I have friends who DO judge me when I'm unemployed. Good friends. They suddenly hate me or something.

hundreddollarman: And you get frustrated when it feels like your job-search efforts seem to be going nowhere

God that can be the worst. It's hard not to get discouraged when you send out ten resumes a day, every day for weeks, and never even get a phone call in return. The only jobs I've gotten in a decade worth spit I got because of people I knew. Sending out resumes for jobs feels exactly the same as dumping them out the window.

AAARRRGGGGHH..

Doing the resume thingy right now, and that pisses me off NO END. Long lists of people claiming they're looking for workers or whatever...and you can't even get an autoresponder saying they got your resume? WTF? Not even a "we got your resume but won't be calling you back unless we're interested"??

Then these same bosses are harping on about how arrogant or entitled job seekers act sometimes. Well, when employers attitude is "We're not really hiring, we're just gathering a 'pool' of potential employees and we'll call you someday if anything opens up" what did you expect? Imagine if my attitude was "I'm not really looking for work, I'm just gathering a pool of offers, and I'll call you someday if I feel like working. Keep the offer open, though." You'd be pissy too.

Dow Jones and the Temple of Doom:Mangoose: It's not being unemployed that's bad for your health, it's having to by cheap, shiatty food and all that time to drink during the morning that's bad for your health.

I, uh... I think I may have been unemployed for the last 6 years, despite showing up for work and collecting a paycheck

Really, it's not. Which is (part of the reason) why employers can cut back on pay and benefits now.

If you have money saved and can be comfortable for awhile, maybe.

Gyrfalcon:Doing the resume thingy right now, and that pisses me off NO END. Long lists of people claiming they're looking for workers or whatever...and you can't even get an autoresponder saying they got your resume? WTF? Not even a "we got your resume but won't be calling you back unless we're interested"??

Then these same bosses are harping on about how arrogant or entitled job seekers act sometimes. Well, when employers attitude is "We're not really hiring, we're just gathering a 'pool' of potential employees and we'll call you someday if anything opens up" what did you expect? Imagine if my attitude was "I'm not really looking for work, I'm just gathering a pool of offers, and I'll call you someday if I feel like working. Keep the offer open, though." You'd be pissy too.

So I'm responsible for going through job applicants two days a week at my current job. What we're hiring for are entry level jobs (with potential to move up, granted) but still definitely not for everyone. My boss does some of the job ads, I do the majority - and I'm not a big fan of how she words the ones she does, because more than half my time is responding to people who don't fit the position in the slightest or who just copy and pasted responses to every posting up there. On the plus side, it's *really* easy to filter people if you call them and ask them to send a resume and they never get back to you...

Still, even though it sucks, I do my damndest to respond to everyone. Yes, lady in Germany, we aren't able to sponsor you and even if we could we definitely couldn't work around the February - July availability you have for the open internship. But I guess I'll email you back, even though you should have read the effing ad that clearly stated "must work in Michigan / employer is not interested in sponsoring international applicants".

It really sucks. But I know there's plenty of straight up overqualified people who at least deserve a response (and if their resume is decent, I almost always direct them to the site where we would have jobs they'd be a better fit for posted when they come up). I still schedule some of them for interviews anyway but the vast majority of the time I know just from their resume that it's not going to work out. I've been in the situation where my resume (actually, just my degree) probably disqualified me from entry level jobs when I just needed to earn some freaking money, and it sucks, and at least they deserve a response that I never got. With a further description of the job if they still want to apply for it, and if they don't, at least one direction to look for for the job they do want.

Sigh.

/that will take up at least half of my day tomorrow//so I'm drinking now

Well, I guess it's a good thing the nation now has Obamacare...oh! Wait!...

Actually, my SO is now still under his parent's plan thanks to Obamacare. When I was his age (yeah yeah) I was kicked off and had to pay a very significant portion of my meager salary to get individual health care (which, as I have two manageable pre-existing conditions that still require me to see a doctor every month, was amazingly expensive for an otherwise healthy 20 something).

He, on the other hand, could do work for a friend's startup business (two years on and still making it, probably couldn't have if the SO wasn't able to help them from the get-go) and is currently doing seasonal work for another local business (albeit much bigger one) and inbetween work is working on developing his own skills and possible product.

He can do all of these things because, unlike me, he doesn't have to worry so much about health insurance. And he rarely even uses his, but I sleep better at night knowing that if a car hits him while he's riding his bike to work tonight, we'll only have to pay kind of ridiculous co-pays instead of him ending up in bankruptcy because of medical bills.

This is the freedom that allows entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive - you can work on something you care about instead of working a crappy job so you can afford health care for your family because you sure as f--k can't afford it otherwise without a group plan*.

* I actually met a couple with a daughter who was born with a crazy (but relatively manageable) pre-existing condition. The dad had to keep turning down promotions at work, because that would mean their family income would be put over the limit for SCHIP and every insurance quote they got was astronomical, as in over $1000/year for the family of 4... the raise would have *cost* them money.